Thanks to luvtaread for editing
Chapter 4
"Okay lover boy stay right where you are," William said pointing a pistol at Brandon. He then turned to Ashley and said, "Ashley, be a doll and bind his wrists, use those panties as you won't be needing them where we're going."
Ashley complied and Brandon felt her sit him up. He let her pin his arms behind his back and bind his wrists with the elastic fabric. Brandon's mind was full of shock as she pulled him to his feet before pulling up his shorts.
"Good," William said, "now why don't you two lead the way back to the camp, Ashley you should know the way."
Ashley nodded and Brandon felt her gently take his left arm and begin leading him back to the path out of the camp. They had been walking for a while and had almost made it back to where Brandon had found Ashley when he felt her thumb gently tapping his arm. He glanced at her quickly and saw her tuck her hair behind her left ear and point ahead in the same motion. He saw what she meant up ahead the ditch containing the stream was deep and close to the path, but the bank was covered in vegetation, the perfect place to 'fall-off' and escape. He flexed his arm to show he understood.
When they got to the spot Brandon pretended to trip and fall into Ashley. The man fired the weapon but hit nothing. Brandon managed to slow himself enough that when he fell over the edge it winded him a bit upon the landing but at least he was alive and out of gun range. Ashley had not managed to reach the bank before the man reached her.
"Where did he go?" the man demanded off her.
"Heck if I know Willie, all I know is that this is not the place to look. My guess is he's knocked out at the bottom. There's a place back a little ways we can get into the ditch easier, but help me up first." Brandon heard Willie reluctantly agree and pull up Ashley. As Brandon worked his hands free of the red fabric he heard her say:
"Darn it! I think I turned an ankle, could you give me a hand so I can show you that spot." Brandon heard a snort of annoyance as Willie reluctantly helped her up.
"Ashley, you are a genius," Brandon thought to himself as her yelps of pain helped cover his escape from the foliage. While Willie was busy helping Ashley move Brandon snuck upstream and climbed out onto the path.
As he snuck up on the much noisier pair he saw that Ashley was leaning against Willie's right side. Her left arm was around his shoulder and she was hoping on her right foot. Her right hand hung loose at her side.
As Brandon got closer he grabbed a stick. As the foliage moved he froze and was surprised to see Ashley wave him forward with her right hand. Smiling Brandon picked up his pace and as he got closer he saw her fingers were counting down to something.
When she got to zero she planted hard on her 'injured' foot and pivoted firmly putting her knee into Willie's groin. As one might expect Willie immediately released her and sank to his knees. Ashley dove to the path side in time to avoid the running swing that Brandon took with his stick, having correctly assessed that she was going to make some kind of move at zero. The stick was partly rotted so it shattered upon impact and only managed to stun Willie slightly.
However, Brandon was fairly sure Ashley had scored a strike and knew from experience that Willie would not be rising anytime soon. So he used the time to grab the weapon that lay on the ground and helped Ashley to her feet.
"Come on," he said heading off toward camp with her holding his hand and trying to keep up.
After a bit Brandon spotted a place in the stream bed he had rested at on his original trip downstream. He stopped abruptly and Ashley nearly ran into him.
"What's up Brandon?' She asked after narrowly avoiding him. Why did you stop, do you hear him?"
"No, I got an idea follow me." He said before leading her into the ditch and over to a hidden over hang that was like a small cave in the dirt.
"I found this the other day when I was headed downstream." He whispered, "Hopefully, the idiot will think we went back to camp and miss us, if we do it right we can outflank him and overwhelm your step-father and rescue Katy and Mel. Since they lost the other man when the boat crashed, from what you told me earlier. That it will be four with guns against two unarmed men, and I like those odds a lot better." Ashley smiled and kissed him.
"If I did not know any better, I'd think you spent time in the military." She said.
"No, but I am a veteran of many a capture the flag games and some of those guys took it pretty seriously. Come to think of it several are now in the military." Brandon said with a chuckle.
"Well, it's a pretty good plan, not bad for short notice."
"You're not too bad yourself with that escape plan you came up with."
"Yeah well I had a good partner." Then after a beat she said, "And thanks for trusting me."
"After what you have risked to help me? Of course I do. Not to mention what happened on the beach."
Ashley giggled and said, "That was pretty amazing wasn't it?" A wide smile crossing her face.
Brandon just nodded and then said, "Oh that reminds me," and he produced the red swimsuit bottoms from his pocket saying, "I believe these belong to you."
She thanked him and quickly put them back on before they heard a loud rustling, accompanied by Willie's curses above their heads. It was clear he was on his way to the camp to find them.
As the sounds faded into the distance Ashley gave him a quick squeeze and kiss and a few seconds later she looked ready to leave when he stopped her. She shot him a confused look and he put a finger to his lips and pointed upstream. She listened and soon nodded her understanding.
Someone was approaching from upstream. Fearing it would be John, Brandon indicated Ashley should stay in the cave while he went to look. A smile crossed his face as he saw who it was.
"I'll be right back, hold tight here and keep an eye out for Willie." Ashley nodded and Brandon set off upstream to where he and Ashley had descended in and waited for his query. As it approached he heard a rock hit near his feet, he looked downstream and saw the plants being shoved aside and it was clear Willie was coming.
Thinking quickly he lunged up the bank where he was standing, quick enough to gather the small blonde in his arms and placed his hand across her mouth. Katy, who had no idea who had just grabbed her fought and did her best to scream as Brandon carried her downstream.
"Katy, calm down will you, it's Brandon." He said quietly, "I'm here to help." Katy stopped struggling in time for Brandon to quickly get her to the cave. He let her go and seeing Ashley, Katy scrambled toward the opening, followed by Brandon. It was a tight fit but all three made it in and Brandon pulled some leaves over them just before they heard Willie thunder by.
"Brandon!" the energetic blonde shrieked a little too loudly, giving him the best hug she could give in the tight space. "You're okay! I can't believe you lived through that."
"Shh," Brandon hissed. Realizing her mistake Katy apologized in a quiet voice and covered her mouth.
"Its okay, the way he was traveling I think an elephant could sneak up on him, but I have no idea where John is at the moment and that worries me." Brandon said
Katy smiled and said, "I wouldn't be too worried about him, Mel shoved him face first into the fire before we ran for it." Then her face went white and she said, "Oh my god, Mel."
Concerned Brandon and Ashley asked in unison, "What about her?"
To their surprise Katy giggled a bit and confused they both asked, "What?!"
"I'm sorry that is just too cute guys, it reminds me of Mel and I when we first..." Brandon and Ashley exchanged exasperated looks before Ashley gave him a 'you go' look.
"Yes Katy, Mel, your wife, who was in some kind of trouble. Focus Katy, what happened to her?" Brandon asked.
Katy looked dazed for a second then spouted, "Oh yeah, she hurt her ankle I think and had to rest she told me to go ahead. That man is headed right for her!"
Acting quickly Brandon stood up and handed the gun he had taken from Willie to Ashley and said, "I'm going after him, if he finds you before I do I want you to shoot him, okay? Don't hesitate, just blast him." Ashley nodded and before she could say anything he was off and scrambling up the bank. He set of at a dead sprint along the path hoping to close the gap between him and Willie.
When he came to a spot where the trail wove to stay close to the water Brandon decided to cut through the plants to make up ground. He broke into a small clearing that ran parallel to the stream, amazed at his luck he picked up his pace and broke through the trees and found himself on another unfamiliar path.
Brandon stopped to catch his breath and heard sounds of a struggle from the direction where the stream was. He recognized Willie's voice and a defiant female voice that had to be Mel. Using great care he slowly proceeded up the path toward the stream. He came to a bend and looked around it and saw the two struggling parties.
Mel was on the ground facing him and trying to force her to her feet was Willie. Mel apparently spotted Brandon and separated herself from Willie. Seeing his chance Brandon set off at a dead sprint and as he got closer he lowered his shoulder. Seconds later his shoulder made hard contact with the small of Willie's back. Both men shot forward toward the stream Brandon managing to catch himself before the edge. The breathless Willie was propelled head first into the rock filled stream.
Brandon got up and looked over the edge and saw a rather gruesome sight. Willie was lying on the rocks at an awkward angle and had several wounds gushing blood, the most notable of which was on his head.
"I don't think he'll be getting up this time." Brandon said turning away in disgust at the gruesome scene.
"What?" asked a confused Mel.
"Sorry, Mel forgot you were there." Brandon said quickly startled by her response. "I...ah was just saying that Willie over there will not be getting up any time soon." Then after a pause he asked, "Are you okay? Katy said something about your ankle."
"Yeah, I think so. It hurts, but not too bad. I think I can move I just did not want to slow down Katy. You found her then?"
"Yeah, she and Ashley are down stream hiding and holding Willie's gun with orders to shoot Willie or John on sight."
"Thanks." Mel said softly and Brandon nodded before heading into the stream bed to check on Willie. When Brandon reached the still form he checked for signs of a pulse or breathing. Finding none, Brandon deduced Willie was dead and noting he was bleeding into the stream decided to move the body. Brandon quickly lifted Willie out of the stream carried him to the other side where he ascended the other bank and walked to a unique tree and laid the body at its base. Without looking back he made his way back to Mel.
"What did you do that for?!" She asked angered.
